Kathy McGowan

Southern Region Staff

Southern Region in Congregational Life

Telephone: (518) 859-9267

Email: kmcgowan@uua.org

Telephone: (518) 859-9267

photo_Kathy McGowan

Kathy McGowan has been on the Congregational Life Staff for the Southern Region of the Unitarian Universalist Association since 2013. In that time her areas of focus have been in systems thinking, theology, conflict, intercultural sensitivity, and staff supervision. She is one of the primary teachers in the Southern Region.

She has a deep passion for Unitarian Universalism and is grounded in its history and theology. She is sensitive to marginalized groups and is committed to intercultural sensitivity. She believes in the transformative power of groups and thrives on the collaborative process. She is talented both in presentation and facilitation with a unique ability to use humor while attending to important and sensitive questions. All of her work comes from a deep respect for an individual process of spiritual development and the power of communal worship.

In addition to her congregational work, her careers have been in the areas of child welfare and theatre. She lives with her two cats in the triangle area of North Carolina. She enjoys visiting her son and daughter in New York and California.

From Kathy McGowan

Displaying 1 - 10 of 20

Many of our congregations are trying to figure out how to cope with fewer resources than they are used to when thinking about their upcoming programs and ministry. You are not alone. We are here to help and to walk with you on this journey....

By Kathy McGowan | September 28, 2022 | From Southern Region

When I was a religious educator I had a congregant talk to me about how amazed she was that her daughter seemed to absorb everything from the previous school year during the summer. Things that she struggled with during the year seemed to sink in somehow over the lazy summer days of doing nothing.

By Kathy McGowan | June 1, 2022 | From Southern Region

Unitarian Universalists are a covenantal, not a creedal, Faith. There is no belief requirement, or creed, that you have to say to join us in community, even though there are beliefs that we would consider to be outside the boundaries of our faith....

By Natalie Briscoe, Kathy McGowan, Nancy Combs-Morgan | March 1, 2022 | From Southern Region
Tagged as: Covenant

“Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here… And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery, and broken...

By Kathy McGowan | January 31, 2022 | From Southern Region

Who would have ever thought that something good could emerge during a pandemic? From our perspective, serving as Congregational Life staff, we have been so inspired by the good, adaptive, and transformative ways our congregations have responded to COVID19. Well, here is some more good news, this...

By Kathy McGowan, Nancy Combs-Morgan | December 28, 2020 | From Southern Region

I began ballet lessons when I was 3 years old. I remember begging my grandparents to allow me to stop playing softball - where the shirts were always polyester, the sun was always hot, and the dust was always in my mouth - in favor of the beautiful tutus, pointe shoes, and air conditioned studios of ballet.

By Natalie Briscoe, Connie Goodbread, Kathy McGowan, Nancy Combs-Morgan | December 8, 2019 | From Southern Region

Online Training. Develop a deeper understanding of how to focus your congregation on mission, build trust and develop a cohesive leadership team. Learn about stewardship, strategic planning, annual goal setting and ministry assessment and the basics of congregational governance.

Training | By UU Leadership Institute, Jonipher Kūpono Kwong, Kathy McGowan, Renee Ruchotzke | November 21, 2019 | From LeaderLab
Tagged as: Governing Boards, Mission/Vision/Planning, Leadership Development

Online Leadership School includes family and other systems thinking applied to congregations. (Similar to Healthy Congregations®) Learn healthy leadership practices, communication and conflict skills, the importance of being mission-focused and how to communicate across differences.

Training | By UU Leadership Institute, Jonipher Kūpono Kwong, Kathy McGowan, Renee Ruchotzke | November 21, 2019 | From LeaderLab
Tagged as: Leadership Development

Online Leadership School for new leaders and those interested in possible leadership. Covers covenant, healthy communication and boundaries, shared ministry, and stewardship & an introduction to congregational polity, UU theologies, and the wider UU movement.

Training | By UU Leadership Institute, Jonipher Kūpono Kwong, Kathy McGowan, Renee Ruchotzke | November 21, 2019 | From LeaderLab
Tagged as: Leadership Development

As Susan Frederick-Gray mentioned during her president’s report at General Assembly in June, LeaderLab is a tremendous resource for congregational leaders. Discover LeaderLab resources. You can go there for extensive training by taking one of the full length leadership courses from the Unitarian...

By Kathy McGowan, Jonipher Kūpono Kwong, Renee Ruchotzke | August 29, 2019 | From Southern Region

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